Food For Thought...
Remember that our data, and our strategic plan shows that we have to have breakthrough efforts and plans to change the data around ELA, Science, and GROWING ALL STUDENTS.
In common planning, please be mindful of what are you doing differently this year to get better, stronger results. We cannot work harder, but how can we work smarter or change our practices to get better results.
A few changes building wide to make sure we are maximizing student learning time...
- Starting immediately, if a student forgets their lunchbox, then it will be delivered to the front of the cafeteria, near the food line entrance. We will no longer be calling them out of class or delivering them to class.
- All classroom interruptions, that are not calling for a student to be dismissed, or being seen by a provider of services, will need to go through Ms. Sauer or Ms. White. We will not be calling into our classes, or interrupting your class unless it is an emergency
- Leadership team determined that Character Parade will be grades K-3 only on Oct. 17th
- Book Fair shopping for middle school students will take place from 7:30-8:00. If they do not arrive by 7:50 to shop, then they will be able to get a pass from Mr. Ball during the last 10 minutes of their lunch.
Be gathering thoughts on anything you would like to see done differently or tweaked for 2nd Quarter, as leadership will be gathering your feedback mid-month.
LOCKDOWN - Code Red Feedback
- Doors need to remain locked at all times. We had 7 unlocked door when we simulated an intruder Friday - that could have resulted in the loss of 140 lives or more!
- We had two rooms that either via view or feel of the door handle, we knew had occupants. This may keep an intruder meant to create harm focused on those rooms vs, unsure if empty and moving on
- What about if your class is in the hallway? outside? cafeteria? dismissal? arrival? We cannot practice all the what if's... but you need to think through and talk through them with students. They need to understand LOCKS, LIGHTS, OUT OF SIGHT. *We will practice more of these as time moves on!
- If you are outside and a CODE RED LOCKDOWN then the threat is inside the building and it would not be the best scenario to return to the building. PE reentered the building and was also so loud, that a threat seeking to harm would have headed in that direction.
- Remember, on your TapApp, the background of green tells you that it is in test mode: drill. Therefore outside classes would simulate quietly leaving campus, but would only head to the edge of the field or sidewalk away from the building. Red background is not a test and personnel would want to use situational awareness and head AWAY!
- We extended the length of this drill and will have some longer, some shorter. We will provide you more information about what to do in longer situations. Remember the initial danger will be in the initial minutes, but it may be a long time until law enforcement has cleared the building to your classroom.
When emailing a group of parents...
When you email a group of parents with the intent to inform, be careful of how you do this. If you use the regular To: or Cc: box, you are showing all of your parents, all of their contact information. They can easily decifer who is who. Not intended, but you just gave everyone free access to contact each other and also to create a group email chain - something you may not want. and legally something you did without their permission.
Here is some advice to avoid this: USE BCC:
excerpts below from article: Zeldes, Nathan. "How to use BCC in an email." https://www.knowmail.me/blog/how-to-use-bcc-in-email/
What is BCC?
"BCC means “Blind Carbon Copy”. In the old days of typewriters and paper memos you made carbon copies (CC) by inserting carbon paper between the sheets; every recipient would get the same text, so they could all see who is on the distribution list. A “blind” copy was one whose recipient was not seen by the others, a feat accomplished by removing the carbon paper before adding this recipient. All email clients today replicate this functionality."
TO vs. CC vs. BCC
"There is a lot written about the distinction between To and CC recipients; the general consensus is that “To” means you have an action item, and CC means you don’t – you’re getting the message as an FYI (the question of why we burden the CC people with non-actionable email makes good food for thought, by the way). Meanwhile, the subject of BCC gets less attention, and people use it as they please."
"When you’re sending a blast email to a large distribution list, BCC is the only way to go. Otherwise, people will all be copied when some idiot hits Reply All instead of Replying to the sender. That leads to what is known as an Email Storm – many irate recipients will respond with a justified complaint, and enough of them will do it with Reply All again; like particles in a nuclear explosion, the angry responses multiply until they can actually bring the server down!""... insight that you should think before you act – a wise strategy in general…especially with email communication. "
Great Things Happening at DCSS
- Special thank you to our safety patrol sponsor, Ms. Walters, for your efforts and planning for the "belting" ceremony this past week.
- Thank you to Mr. Belay for your efforts with the Kate Amato childhood cancer fundraiser
- We loved having teacher presenters for our Early Release PD - thank you Ms. Cox, Mr. Ahern & Ms. Webster for stepping out of your comfort zones and helping peers by sharing great best practices.
- Shoutout to Ms. Reemsnyder from the ESE team: thank you for being on top of your teacher input forms, returning them on time and being an active participant in the IEP meetings.
- Ms. Krieger received a shoutout in the national CSUSA newsletter from our QUEST Visit! Way to go Ms. Krieger!
- Thank you to Ms. Roberson for serving on our BTAT/Safety Review Team
Fall Festival & Book Fair
DCSS 2019 FALL FESTIVAL
Date: Saturday, October 12
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m
Where: DCSS Athletic Field
Activities: Rock Wall, Giant Slide, Obstacle Course, Bounce House, Dunk Booth and Grade level game booths.
Food: Your Pie, Kona Ice and The Mobile Food Trip
Cost: $15 will cover all activities per child
Food will be available for purchase, please bring cash, or card.
Wristbands can be purchased for children at the gate on the day of event, for $15 (exact cash)
* We will be welcoming families into the building to purchase books from our 'Book Fair', during the 'Fall Festival'.
